Preview: Brisbane Roar FC v Melbourne City FC

Big clubs with underwhelming starts to their respective campaigns - a win for either would be massive especially after both clubs lost star players in recent days with Liam Miller at Roar and a certain Spaniard at City exiting the fold.

Victory will be paramount for both these clubs who have yet to catch fire so far this season. Defending champions Brisbane have been the biggest surprise, yet to register a win.

It’s led to rumours of unrest and a dressing room revolt, which has been denied by the club but those things won’t go away until results start to improve. City, who now begin life without Spanish superstar David Villa, have lost on each of their last three visits to Suncorp Stadium but will feel there’s no better time to put that right.

Midfielder Matt McKay is one player who is likely to come straight back into the line-up after serving his two-game ban for Roar. Corey Brown and Daniel Bowles have also been promoted while Liam Miller makes way after being released by the club last week.

There’s a raft of changes in the City squad with David Villa back in New York after just four games while Massimo Murdocca (groin) and Jonatan Germano (hamstring) are also out. Iain Ramsay, James Brown, Nick Kalmar, Stefan Mauk and Marc Marino have all been added to John van’t Schip’s squad.

OPTA DATA STATS

Brisbane have failed to pick up a point from their first three league games, something they’d never managed to do prior to this season.

Since beating their city rivals in March, Melbourne City has failed to win a game (D4 L6).

Roar are the most accurate passers in the Hyundai A-League this term (83.6 percent).

City’s Aaron Mooy has had more touches than any other player this season (328).

ROUTE TO GOAL

Melbourne City have struggled to create many chances from open play in the last few weeks, with their last three goals coming from set pieces. It must be a concern for van’t Schip, especially with David Villa – who has had more attempts (11) on goal than any other player this season – now back in New York.

The responsibility will now fall more heavily on the shoulders of the likes of David Williams and Mate Dugandzic to try and lift their games to make City a threat going forward. They might well try and catch out Roar ‘keeper Jamie Young, who has been found out with his positional play a couple of times already this season.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Aaron Mooy. The classy midfielder’s superb form has gone largely unnoticed in most circles due to Villa’s presence but Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou has taken notice, calling him up into the squad for the upcoming friendly against Japan.

With Villa now gone and marquee man Robbie Koren still out through injury, Mooy is extra vital in the middle of the park, not only creating things for City but stopping the likes of McKay, Luke Brattan and Steve Lustica.